Fay Canyon Arch Trail is popular hike out and back trail, 1.5 miles.

We start at Fay Canyon Trailhead, hike 0.6 mile on a flat trail with some shade. Turn right on the side trail up to the arch. The trail is steep, rocky, quite a bit of scrambling, but we all manage so well to the arch. From the trail, the arch is like a cave because it’s very close to another wall, It’s hard to say at first that is an arch.

But when we come up, everybody enjoys the beauty of the arch and the view surrounding. Definitely it’s a picturesque hike.

When we are back at the trailhead, I suggest the group should arrange carpooling into two vehicles to Long Canyon Trailhead, due to limited parking space.

We start at Long Canyon Trailhead and take an easy walk. Go straight 0.6 mile, until there is a fork on the road. We turn left and take the 1.4 steep trail up to the cave. The view from the trail and up at the cave is worth for climb.

In history the indigenous Hopi people, who lived in Sedona a long time ago, sent their pregnant women to the Birthing Cave when it was time to them to give birth. I wonder how pregnant women can climb up to the cave, because for me, this hike is moderate rating for experienced hikers, difficult for less experienced ones.

We finished both hikes around 11:00 AM. I asked if anyone want hike a little bit on Chuck Wagon Trail.

All of us agreed and hiked on. But a little bit later only four hikers kept going, because the temperature got intense. Around 1.2 miles, the four hikers stopped and turned back.